Question: Monster Raising Genre

[EzraPound]

I'm just curious -- I've been playing Dragon Warrior Monsters for the Game Boy lately, and while reading about it (something I consider complementary to gameplay) noticed frequent allusions to it being a "Pokémon clone." And while this claim surely has a strong element of truth to it -- obviously, DWM was an attempt to capitalize on Pokémon's success; a factor presumably responsible for its stateside release -- I recall hearing someone on this forum state that earlier iterations in the Dragon Warrior/Quest had included "monster-raising" mini-games, suggesting that -- if anything -- Pokémon may have firstly grokked Dragon Quest's gameplay.

So my question is this: can Dragon Warrior Monsters be thoroughly described as a Pokémon imitator, or -- and perhaps someone more familiar with the Dragon Quest series can answer this -- did Pokémon actually expand upon ideas put forth in Dragon Quest and other games featuring monster-raising; an approach in turn borrowed by DWM? In other words: was Dragon Warrior Monsters an attempt by Enix to reclaim their old "turf", or was it a direct bite?

 

[EzraPound]

bump

 

[Orbot_Vectorman]

I personaly see a small market for it, though amongst the younger crowd, or even some pet owners. But yes, games like "Pokemon" and "Dragon Warrior/Quest" are quite successful, I doubt that other companys may try to make games such as these, mainly to avoid law suits.

 

[Mr. GameBrain]

To be honest, Dragon Quest Monsters is hardly a Pokemon clone.

It was at heart a true monster raising game.

Only in its last few iterations has Pokemon ever developed the depth on the raising side of the genre, but even then, the game focuses itself more on the battling side.

Now, games like Dragon Quest Monsters, (excluding Joker, which is a whole new variant altogether), Monster Rancher, and Jade Cocoon, definately focused more heavily on the raising side, (especially Monster Rancher) as well as the exploration, and the feeling of adventure.

Now it might seem controvertial to suggest that Pokemon doesn't involve exploration, but when you think about it, apart from the "dungeons", as it were, the overworld is quite samey, and a bit bland, (mostly because Nintendo and Game Freak, seem to refuse to modify the template that they have created for the games), and finally static, (the game doesn't feel so alive. Everything is in the same place, at least in DQM, the other breeders moved around a little on the maps, and didn't beeline towards you when they so much as glinted eyecontact.
The monster teams they had, could be genuinely hard to beat, and the tournaments, I felt, had more meaning to them when you beat them!

I freaking love monster games! And I'm looking forward to a Joker sequel (first one was great, but too short for my liking), and I am most upset the monster rancher DS games never made it to the US, (which also means it'll never be out here in Europe... :,( ).

 

[Gryphonsflight]

I think everyone is forgetting one of the truest monster raising games. Monster Rancher (Farm) on the PS, Ps2, GBA, and DS as of March 30th.

The Monster rancher series put a HEAVY focus on training and taking care of your monster, I mean the little guy could even die if you screwed around while raising him and then have to fight an overpowered foe. I mean when I was younger and playing it, I remember the first time my monster died because I was a level D ranked and fought in an opened cup tournament. One attack my monster was down.. in the hospital for two months, then passed on.

In short, I cried. If a game can get you that attached to a monster, its a good monster raising game.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Jade Cocoon, Blue Mages, Pokemon, DQM/DWM.

I love the idea of fighting USING THE ENEMY.

but not stuff like Monster Rancher. Training was annoying...

That said, DQM/DWM is nothing like pokemon.

 

[Mr. GameBrain]

I'll retract my earlier statement about monster rancher not coming to the DS, as it is!!!

It'll be out in the US at the end of this month.

Better yet, its a localisation of Monster Farm DS 2!

Looks like there's hope for us monster raisers yet!

EDIT: just realised poster below me just said this....

Err.. still don't care though.

I really like Monster Rancher, especially the second one on the playstation.

Now all we need is a Jade Cocoon 3 and I'll explode with excitement! XD

 

[EzraPound]

To be honest, Dragon Quest Monsters is hardly a Pokemon clone.

It was at heart a true monster raising game.

Only in its last few iterations has Pokemon ever developed the depth on the raising side of the genre, but even then, the game focuses itself more on the battling side.

Now, games like Dragon Quest Monsters, (excluding Joker, which is a whole new variant altogether), Monster Rancher, and Jade Cocoon, definately focused more heavily on the raising side, (especially Monster Rancher) as well as the exploration, and the feeling of adventure.

Now it might seem controvertial to suggest that Pokemon doesn't involve exploration, but when you think about it, apart from the "dungeons", as it were, the overworld is quite samey, and a bit bland, (mostly because Nintendo and Game Freak, seem to refuse to modify the template that they have created for the games), and finally static, (the game doesn't feel so alive. Everything is in the same place, at least in DQM, the other breeders moved around a little on the maps, and didn't beeline towards you when they so much as glinted eyecontact.
The monster teams they had, could be genuinely hard to beat, and the tournaments, I felt, had more meaning to them when you beat them!

I freaking love monster games! And I'm looking forward to a Joker sequel (first one was great, but too short for my liking), and I am most upset the monster rancher DS games never made it to the US, (which also means it'll never be out here in Europe... :,( ).

I wouldn't exactly call Dragon Warrior Monsters' anything other than "samey": most of the randomized questing environments are constructed out of regrettably few tilesets and enemies, and -- insofar as I can tell, as I'm only part-way through the game -- you don't even move from town to town. If anything, its design is more of an homage to brazenly redundant WRPGs such as Diablo, which eschew the scale of something like Final Fantasy VI in favour of a less narrative-driven, more combat-focused game design. This is appropriate, since DWM's strengths -- its labyrinthine breeding, and a combat system that outstrips Pokémon -- suggests depth, not breadth, and while neither of these approaches is categorically better I would still argue that Pokémon is a vastly superior franchise because of the sheer multifariousness of its gameplay; its great sprawl.